Ok, I know what you’re thinking. the Lions are all set at quarterback. They’ve got Jared Goff, who’s expected to get an extension any day now, Hendon Hooker and Nate Sudfeld. While they would be fine if they didn’t get an extra one, I think they should keep their eyes peeled for one. Especially since Lions have carried three quarterbacks on the roster two of the last three years and had a fourth on the practice squad.
Jared Goff is this teams unquestioned starter. This we know. Hendon Hooker potentially gives the team a premium backup, but we don’t know what that even looks like yet and he’s going to be 27 this season. Nate Sudfeld is solid option as the Lions practice squad quarterback. There’s even a chance he makes the 53-man roster again. What about a young guy that can grow with the team?
I know that when you hear quarterback, your mind automatically takes you to the high rounds. That’s not where I’m going with this. I’m not really even going with starter of the future. I’m going with premium backup of the future who may be able to start someday. Big emphasis on the word may.
I hate to keep dumping on Hendon Hooker, but that age is a problem. Consider this, Tua Tagovailoa is the same age as Hooker and he’s about to start playing his fifth season. Hooker hasn’t played a snap of NFL football yet. I say this all the time, but he’ll be 30-years-old when his rookie deal is up. That is not normal and it doesn’t indicate that he is someone that is long for this team.
Here’s a chance to draft a younger quarterback and build him up for the future. You don’t have to stop with Hooker. I’m not saying that you have to move off of him. I do believe he’ll serve a role on this team and that he could be a great backup once he’s healthy and ready to go. But they could still work up a young player along side of him. Someone that could be in the building for a few years and you see what you have down the road.
They could even grab a guy that they plan to stash on the practice squad and see what he can do there.
Here’s some names that come to mind:
- Carter Bradley, South Alabama: Bradley blew every quarterback out of the water at the Senior Bowl in my opinion. He’s not going to get looked at very high becasue he’s a small school guy and there’s just so many quarterbacks above him. The Lions could grab him in the seventh or as a UDFA.
- Kedon Slovis, BYU: Slovis is one of the youngest quarterbacks in this draft at 22-years-old. If you want to spend time on a guy, his age certainly gives you that time. He’s a seventh round or UDFA guy.
- Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland: Tua’s little brother has some skill that’s worth taking a look at. He’s a seventh round or UDFA guy.
- Joe Milton, Tennessee: Milton needs work. There’s no way around that. But that arm talent is just unbelievable and it’s going to get him drafted somewhere. He’s a sixth or seventh round guy.
We’ll see what happens in the draft. More than likely the Lions will bring in a UDFA to camp like they did last year with current Birmingham Stallions quarterback Adrian Martinez. If they pick the right guy, he could find himself on the roster.